BRISTOL City goalkeeper David James has been fined £175 after being clocked speeding at 90mph on the M5 at Weston-super-Mare.

Former England goalkeeper James, 41, of Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, was found guilty in his absence after he failed to attend the hearing at North Somerset Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard how James had been caught by police driving at an average speed of 90mph over a 0.6-mile stretch of the M5 between the Wolvershill Road motorway bridge and the junction 21 motorway roundabout at 8.30am on July 22.

When pulled over by officers, James, who was driving a V-reg Vauxhall Astra, was told by the officer he would be reported for speeding.

James, who was driving in the third lane of the northbound carriageway, replied "OK" and then the officer offered him a speed education course to avoid points on his licence, which he accepted.

But when the football star, who has played for Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Portsmouth, failed to attend the course, a summons was issued and the case went ahead in his absence.

The court heard how the weather was fine and dry on the day of the offence and the traffic on the motorway was busy.

A magistrates bench of one man and two women fined James £175 and put three penalty points on his licence, which the court heard had been clean up until this incident on July 22. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Up until last year, James held the record for appearances in the Premier League – 536.

He has now been overtaken by Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs.

He played 53 times for England, his last appearance was in the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

That year he became the oldest goalkeeper to play in the FA Cup final, aged 39.

He still holds the record for Premier League clean sheets, with 173.

He signed for Bristol City in July 2010, when Steve Coppell was manager.

His current contract runs out in June this year.